The crooked witch, commonly known as "Crooked Witch HTA," is a character that has been a part of folklore and fairy tales for many years. This mythical being is said to have a twisted and deformed appearance, often hunchbacked and with a long, crooked nose. The Crooked Witch HTA is known to possess magical powers, which she uses for both good and evil purposes. Legends surrounding the Crooked Witch HTA vary, with different cultures and regions having their own unique interpretations. In some stories, she is portrayed as an evil sorceress who casts spells on innocent people and causes chaos wherever she goes. She is often depicted as living in a dark and sinister forest, hidden away from the rest of the world.
Matthew J. Prigge is a freelance author and historian from Milwaukee. He is the author of four books, and wrote two weekly blogs for shepherdexpress.com on topics of local history.
Stay on top of the news of the day Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter to get Milwaukee s latest local news, restaurants, music, arts and entertainment and events delivered right to your inbox every weekday, plus a bonus Week in Review email on Saturdays. If I lived in Milwaukee and went to baseball games, I would have prayed for home runs, just to see anyone, much less a guy in a foam suit, slide into a mug of beer.
She is often depicted as living in a dark and sinister forest, hidden away from the rest of the world. However, not all tales paint the Crooked Witch HTA in a negative light. Some stories present her as a wise and misunderstood figure who possesses ancient knowledge and abilities.
Bernie Brewer: Mascot, Cheerleader… Spy?
With a 7-3 win on July 8, 1973, the Brewers completed a resounding doubleheader sweep of the Texas Rangers and climbed above .500 at the latest point in any of their three seasons of existence. The Brewers were one of the AL ’s surprise teams that year. They had opened June by winning 15 of 16 games and were now only four games behind the first-place Yankees as the all-star break neared. The Rangers lingered pathetically in last place, already 24 games below .500. The pounding of the Rangers by the Brewers, in this context, seemed nothing out of the norm. Texas manager Whitey Herzog, however, still felt that his team had been cheated. Suffering from either the strain of a miserable Rangers team or the 90-plus degree summer heat in Milwaukee that afternoon, Herzog unloaded in the clubhouse following the losses. It was not the Brewers hitters, he claimed, but their mascot, who had beaten him.
“Can you imagine a damn team that has to cheat to beat us?” Herzog howled to reporters after the game. Herzog went on to explain that during the second game of the doubleheader – the third in a row in which Milwaukee blasted Texas pitching – Rangers first base coach Jackie Moore noticed some strange activity in the centerfield bleacher chalet of mascot Bernie Brewer. The chalet, with its now-famous slide and giant beer mug, had been installed earlier that season as a promotional gimmick. The lederhosen-clad Bernie, played by Marquette University student Dan McCarthy, cheered on the home team while they were batting and slid into the mug after each home run. But Moore and Herzog soon noticed him doing something else. He clapped once – so the two claimed – before a Texas pitcher threw a curveball and not at all when the pitcher delivered a fastball.
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Sign-stealing is an old (and somewhat accepted) practice in baseball. Tipping off a batter to a breaking pitch could give him an advantage. The Rangers also noticed what appeared to be a man, who appeared to have a set of binoculars, hiding in the chalet. If this man was spying on the catcher’s signs to the pitcher and then relaying those signs to the Brewers batters, so Herzog thought, it could explain the Brewers’ recent hit barrage. Convinced he was being had, Herzog sent pitcher Jim Bibby, who had been shelled in game one, to go investigate. According the Mike Shropshite’s Seasons in Hell, a recounting of the 1973-75 Rangers, Herzog said “I wanted to send Bibby up there to Bernie Brewer’s little house and kick his gooddamn ass.” Instead Herzog sent the pitcher on a recon mission. A team official prevent Bibby from going up to the chalet, but Bibby told Herzog he had seen two boxes and a telephone being removed from the house. “Watergate has nothing on Bernie’s chalet at County Stadium , to hear the Texas Rangers tell it,” the Milwaukee Sentinel observed.
Herzog took his complaints to the umpiring crew, screaming at them about the conspiracy. Mid-game, they ordered the second man out of the chalet and had McCarthy remove his white gloves – a part of the costume Herzog thought were used to better relay his clapping. The second man, the Brewers claimed, was an assistant who inflated the balloons that flew out of the mug after each home run. Herzog continued his rage after the game, blaming that “little asshole in the costume” for his pitching staff’s sour luck.
McCarthy, the “little asshole” in question, later denied any role in sign-stealing, “I played outfield in Little and Babe Ruth leagues and I can’t tell one sign from another. I wouldn’t know what to look for.” Brewers manager Del Crandall cheekily admitted the team did have a spy in Bernie’s roost and “revealed” the identity of the mysterious second man. “It’s Bud Selig,” he said with a laugh. “Who’d you think we’d send up there?”
If Bernie was stealing signs back in 1973, it didn’t do much good. The Brewers scored 10 fewer runs at home that season as they did on the road. And a week after the incident, they beat the Rangers three more times in a row – in Texas .
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Matthew J. Prigge
Matthew J. Prigge is a freelance author and historian from Milwaukee. He is the author of four books, and wrote two weekly blogs for shepherdexpress.com on topics of local history.
Miller Park. J. Meiers, via WIkimedia Commons.
These stories highlight her as a protector of nature and a keeper of ancient traditions. People seek her out for guidance and assistance, believing in her ability to bring balance and harmony to their lives. The image of the crooked witch has also made its way into popular culture, appearing in books, movies, and art. Whether portrayed as a menacing force or a misunderstood outcast, the Crooked Witch HTA continues to captivate audiences with her unique and enigmatic persona. Overall, the Crooked Witch HTA is a fascinating and complex character in folklore and fairy tales. Through her distorted appearance and magical abilities, she embodies both darkness and light. Whether feared or admired, the crooked witch remains an enduring figure in the realm of fantasy and storytelling..
Reviews for "Understanding HTA Sandboxing: An Essential Defense Against the Crooked Witch"
1. Jessica - 1/5 stars
I found "Crooked Witch Hta" to be incredibly disappointing. The writing was disjointed and lacked a clear plotline. The characters were poorly developed and their actions felt forced and unnatural. The author seemed to rely on shock value rather than creating a compelling story. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone.
2. Andrew - 2/5 stars
I had high hopes for "Crooked Witch Hta" based on the intriguing synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was slow, and the story lacked depth. The twists and turns that were promised felt predictable and left me feeling underwhelmed. The world-building was also lacking, with insufficient descriptions and explanations. Overall, it was not a satisfying read for me.
3. Michelle - 2/5 stars
"Crooked Witch Hta" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. The writing style was difficult to follow, with inconsistent pacing and confusing dialogue. The characters were shallow and lacked development, making it hard to connect with them. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving me unsatisfied and wanting more. Overall, I was left disappointed by this book.